Lexar TouchLock review

Security

TouchLock’s central feature is the combination of encryption in the drive and authentication through the phone. NFC performs the unlocking step; it does not transfer the stored files wirelessly. The data connection remains USB.

PC Gamer’s 1TB review describes an initial app-pairing process that generates a recovery key. It also confirms that the phone is used to unlock the drive when the drive is connected to a computer. Keep that recovery information separately from the files being protected, and consider whether the required phone will be available whenever access is needed. ¹

This is a practical option for personal file privacy. The available documentation does not establish an independently certified enterprise security system, so buyers with a formal security requirement should match that requirement to documented certification rather than infer it from the encryption label.

Performance

The interface sets a modest ceiling compared with current 10 or 20 Gb/s portable SSDs. That is a meaningful compromise for repeated large media transfers. For documents and smaller working folders, the unlocking routine and portability may matter more than shaving time from a bulk copy.

PC Gamer measured about 410 MB/s reads and 429 MB/s writes with its 1TB sample in CrystalDiskMark’s sequential Q8T1 test. The benchmark host is not identified, and these figures do not establish sustained writing across the whole drive. They give a useful indication of this sample’s short-transfer performance. ¹

Design & Connectivity

The thin body can sit against a compatible phone, helping keep a mobile backup setup together. The included metal ring provides an attachment option, while the adapter makes it easier to move the same drive to a computer with USB-A. A magnetic attachment does not eliminate the cable.

Lexar publishes a controlled two-meter drop rating and a three-year limited warranty, with drop damage excluded. That rating does not establish water protection. A dry carrying arrangement remains sensible for a drive holding important files.

Software

The app can copy photos, videos and Live Photos to local storage. Lexar explicitly excludes iCloud content backup, so this should be treated as a local media-copy tool rather than a complete replacement for a phone or cloud backup.

The authentication phone must support NFC, and Lexar’s product sheet excludes HarmonyOS app compatibility. Desktop storage support and phone-authentication support are separate checks: a compatible computer does not remove the need for the phone step.

Alternatives

The Samsung T7 Shield offers password-based hardware encryption and a faster 10 Gb/s connection. It is a better fit when frequent large transfers matter more than NFC unlocking.

The Lexar ES5 is oriented toward magnetic phone mounting and supported recording workflows. Choose between them based on whether controlled file access or media capture is the main task.

Verdict

TouchLock is a considered choice for someone who wants a small encrypted drive and is comfortable making the phone part of every access routine. Its modest transfer ceiling is acceptable for that purpose. Buyers primarily moving large video projects should prioritize a faster drive instead.